Folding mechanism



Jah'. A8, 1935.v

C. S. CRAFTS ET AL FOLDING MECHANISM Filed May 3l, 1933 3 Sheetis-Sheet l ATTORNEY Ja- 3, 1935 c. s. CRAFTS ET Al. I 1,987,325

FOLDING MEGHANI SM @www Jams, 1935. cis. CRAFTS ET 1,987,325

FOLDING MECHANISM Filed May 51, 1955 5 sheets-sheet 5 Patented Jan. 8, 1935 UNITED STATES FOLDING MECHANISM Curtis S. Crafts and Charles Alonzo Harless, Oak Park, Ill., assignors to` The Goss Printing Press Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application May 31, 1933, Serial No. 673,679

23 Claims.

The present invention relates to rotary folding mechanism, and more particularly to a'novel and improved rotary folding mechanism for high speed operation. j

Objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part hereinafterand in part will be obvious herefrom, or may be learned'by practice with the invention, the samebeing realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations pointed out in the appended claims. A f' The invention consists in the novel parts, vconstructions, arrangementacombinations and im'- provements herein shown anddescribed.

The accompanying drawings, referred to herein and constituting a part hereof, illustrate one ern-` bodiment of the invention, and together withth'e description, serve tov explain the principles of the invention.

Of the drawings: f f

Figure 1 is a longitudinal section taken on the line 1-1 of Figure 2;

Figure 2 is a vertical section taken on .the vline 2-2 of Figure 1; with certain parts broken away;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary end View of the gear housing shown in Figures 1 and 2;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary section taken on line 4 4 of Figure 2; and

Figure 5 is a section taken on the line 5 5 of 30 Figure 1.

The present invention has for its object the provision4 of a novel and improved folding mechanism particularly adapted for thehigh speed folding of printed products.y Another object, is the pror vision of a novel and improved gear actuating mechanism for the folding blades of a rotary folding mechanism, in which the gears are constantly lubricated. Still another object is the provision of the lubrication system for such a folding mechanism which is adapted to retain a substantial quantity of lubricant and cannot throw the foldingcylinder out of balance during operation.

Referring now in detail to the illustrative embodiment of they invention, as shown in the accompanying drawings, a folding cylinder 10, provided with folding blades 11, is rotatably mounted by means of its shaft 12 in side frames, one of which is shown and numbered 13. Cylinder 10 is driven in the usual manner by means of gear 14 secured to shaft 12 by key 15 and cap 16.

Shaft l2 is journalled in the side frame 13 by means of an annular sleeve which is vrotatable in a circular recess in the frame 13. Sleeve 20 carries on its interior a pair of spacedapartroller bearings 21 which are held in properv position by the means of the spacer ring 22 between their outer races, a spacer 23 between one of the bearings and shoulder 24 on shaft l2, and a spacer 25 pressed inwardly by means of cap plate 16. On its outer end, sleeve 20 is formed with an enlarged integral flange 27 adapted to lie against the outer face of frame 13, and also extending centrally inwardly to form a relatively tight seal at the outerend of the bearings. Sleeve 20 is held fast to the frame by bolts passing through arcuate slots in ange 10 27. Packing 28 may be provided between the flange 27 and spacer ringk 25 to make this `seal more effective. Suitable antifriction bearings may be provided for journalling the other end of shaft 12 in its side frame.

lMeans are provided for actuating the folding blades 1l as the cylinder rotates, and forthis purpose a gear 30 is positioned over shaftv12,.coaxial therewith and spaced only slightly from one end of the cylinder 10. Gear 30 is mounted on a sup- 2O porting sleeve 31 which is bolted to the inner end of sleeve 20 by means of cap screws 32. 4Gear 30 is securely fastened to sleeve 31 by means of screws 34 which are threaded into the body of the gear and pass through the iiange 36 at the innerfend 425 of sleeve 31. Packing 38 may be provided between the inner surface of sleeve 31 and shaft 12 to prevent leakage of oil into the bearings 21.. l

Stationary gear 30 meshes with idlers 40 which revolve about it and mesh, in turn,'with the pin- 3Q ions 41 secured to the folding blade shafts 17. One such idler and pinion may be provided for each of the folding blades, and the gear' ratio of the pinion and gear 30 is such as `to vproduce a wholernumber of revolutions,'preferably three, 35 of each pinion 41 and shaft 17 each revolutionof the cylinder 10.

In accordance with the present finvention, means are provided for constantly lubricating the blade actuating pinions and gears so as to 40 insure Vsmooth andeasy operation; and these means also serve to distribute the lubricant and maintain it in a balanced conditionl so that eX- cessive vibration does not occur. As embodied,

a generally cylindrical housing 50 is mounted over 45 the gear 30, also enclosing, and preferably supv porting, pinions 4()v and 41, and is coaxial with `the cylinder shaft'lO. This housing vcomprises a pair of side walls 52, one on either side of the gear 30, and a connecting cylindrical portion 50 53 positioned just beyond the peripheries of pin-l ions 40 and 41. Side walls 52 and the cylindrical portion 53 together form an annular trough which, together with the end of cylinder 10, and sleeve 31, serves to completely enclose all 'of the 55 gears and forms an oil-retaining, or substantially oil tight, housing.

Annular housing 50 is preferably in two halves having abutting faces 54 lying on a diameter of the housing, and which may be securely fastened together by screws 55. These halves are preferably duplicates of each other and when clamped together with the pinions in place form a balanced housing.

The inner surface of cylindrical portion 53 need not be of uniform Width, and as embodied comprises diametrically opposed narrow channels 57 connecting diametrically opposed enlarged portions of the trough or pockets 58 in which the pinions 40 and 41 are rotatably mounted. Channels 57 and pockets 58 merge into each other to form a substantially circular` channel of varying width concentric with the cylinder shaft 12. The annular housing 50 is preferably securely fastenedl to the end of the cylinder body by means of cap screws 60 which pass through annular slots 61 formed ina flange 62 integral with the annular housing and positioned directly behind the narrow channels 57.

At one end, folding blade shafts 17 are rotatably mounted in the housing 50 by means of antifriction ball bearings* 64 which are seated in the inner wall 52 and held in place by collar` 65 secured to said wall by screws 66. The inner race of bearing 64 is held fast against shaft 17 by means of collar 67 and the inner face of gear V41, the gear being pressed towards collar 67 by` means of screw 68. Pinion 41 meshes with idler 40 which in turn meshes with stationary gear 30.

Heretofore it has been customary to journal the intermediate idler at only one endg but in accordance with the present invention, this idler is journalled at both ends thereby preventing misalinement of this gear due to its centrifugal force, while in operation. As embodied, idler 40 is mounted on a short shaft which is journalled; at either end in ball bearings 70 mounted in suitable recesses in the side walls of housing 50, and in order to facilitate assembly and disassembly, the outer bearing 70 is mounted in a suitable recessed plate 71 which is secured to the housing by cap screws 72.

Means are provided for forming an oil retaining joint between the outer wall of rotatable housing 50 and the outer face of stationary sleeve 31, and for this purpose a rib 73 extends circumferentially of the sleeve and projects into a corresponding circumferential groove 74 in the wall of housing 50. Drain holes 75 are provided to permit drainage of any oil which may accumulate in the groove 74. l

For preventing of leakage of oil through bearings 64, oil sealing rings 76 and retaining rings 77 are mounted in the collars 65' externally of the bearings. Y y

Means are also provided for rotatably supporting the opposite end of 'blade shaft 17, and for this purpose a spider 78 is mounted at the other end of cylinder on shaft 12 and is normally held rigid with respect to said shaft but is capable of limited angular movement. This end of shaft 17 is rotatably journalled by means of ball bearings 79 seated in suitable recesses in the ends of spider 78, and having their inner races secured to the shaft 17 by means of plate 8() and cap screw 81. Bearings 79 are secured in inner recesses by means of collars 82 and lubricant is retained within the bearings by meansl of the sealing ring 83.

A drain plug 85 is threaded into an aperture close to the outer edge of housing 50 and provides means for introducing lubricant into the housing and for draining the housing when necessary.

For minutely angularly moving stationary gear 30 for the purpose of timing the operation of the folding blades 11, a flange 27 is provided with a lug 87 extending radially thereof and positioned between opposed set screws 88 which are threaded into bosses on the outer face of side frames 13. By moving screws 88, after loosening screws 90, flange 27, sleeve and gear 30 may be moved to the correct angular position to time the operation of the folding blades 11, and gear and thereafter be held in its proper position by tightening the screws 88 and 34.

Means are also provided for angularly moving the folding blade shafts 17 with respect to the body of folding cylinders 10, and for this purpose spider 78 and housing 50 may be angularly moved after loosening their respective clamping screws 89 and, care being takento maintain shaft 17 parallel to shaft 12.

Inv the operation of the 'embodiment of the invention, the folding cylinder 10 is rotated in timed relation with .the printing press through gearing driving gear'14. As cylinderlO rotates, pinions41 and idlers l0 are revolved'by engagement with stationary gearl 30, andv in the present embodiment, each folding blade shaftv A17 :makes three revolutions for each rotation'of the folding cylinder 10. A quantity of lubricant is contained within the housing 50 and as the cylinder 10 and housing 50-are rotated,fthe lubricant is distributed to form a film of uniform thickness in thechannels 57 and pockets 58, this-film being of sufficientthickness to contact withl the teeth of pinions 411whichcarry the lubricanty toidlers and thence to the teeth of stationary gear 30. When the cylinder 10 stops, the lubricant collects in the bottom of housing 50, but is quickly distributed uniformly when the cylinder is placed in operation.

The invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific mechanisms shown andA described but departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the accompanying claims without departing from the principles of theinvention and without sacrificing its chief advantages.

What we claim is: 1. A folding mechanism including in combination a rotaryl folding cylinder, folding rollers folding blades on said cylinder to fold sheets between said rollers, a stationary gear, la pinion on each folding blade shaft, and idlers, each meshing with said gear and pinion Vfor actuating said blades by said gear, a housing covering said pinions, mount- 4 edon said cylinder and angularly movable relative thereto and means for. rotatablyjournalling said idlers and the blade shafts in said housing. 2. A folding mechanism including in combination a rotary folding cylinder, folding rollers, foldfolding blades on said cylinder to fold sheets between said rollers, a stationary gearya pinion on each folding blade shaft, and idlers, each meshingl with said gear and pinion foractuating said blades by said gear, an oil retaining housing coveringsaid pinions, mounted on` said cylinder and angularly movable relative thereto and means for rotatably journalling said idlers and the blade shafts in said housing.

3. `A, foldingmechanism including in combination a rotary folding cylinder, folding rollers, folding blades on said cylinder to fold sheets between saicl rollers, a'stationary gear, avpinion on Cil each folding blade shaft, and idlers, each meshing with said gear and pinion for actuating said blades by said gear, an oil retaining housing covering said pinions and idlers, mounted on said cylinder and angularly movable relative thereto, antifriction bearings at both ends of said idlers and mounted in said housing and means for rotatably journalling the blade shafts in said housmg.

4. A folding mechanism including in combination a rotary folding cylinder, folding rollers, a folding blade on said cylinder to fold sheets between said rollers and means for actuating said blade including a gear coaxial with said cylinder, a planetary pinion for rotating said blade by said gear, means for minutely rotating said gear and means for securing said gear against movement. Y

5. A folding mechanism including in combination a rotary folding cylinder, folding rollers, a folding blade on said cylinder to fold sheets between said rollers and means for actuating said blade including a gear coaxial with said cylinder, a planetary idler pinion meshing with said gear, a pinion xed to said blade and driven by said idler pinion, means for releasably and securely holding said gear against movement and means for minutely angularly moving said gear to time said blade.

6. A folding mechanism including in combination a rotary folding cylinder, folding rollers, a folding blade on said cylinder to fold sheets between said rollers and means for actuating said blade including a frame, a gear rotatably mounted in said frame coaxial with said cylinder, antifriction bearings rotatably supporting said cylinder, means for actuating said blade by said gear as the cylinder rotates, means for minutely angularly moving said gear in said frame and means for securing said gear against movement.

7. A folding mechanism including in combination a rotary folding cylinder, folding rollers, folding blades on said cylinder to fold sheets between said rollers, a frame, a stationary gear mounted in said frame, means for minutely angularly moving said gear in said frame, a bearing concentric with said gear and in which said cylinder is journaled, means for releasably securing said gear against movement, pinions meshing with said gear for actuating said blades, an oil retaining housing in which said pinions are rotatably mounted and enclosing said gear, and means for angularly movably mounting said housing on said cylinder.

8. In a rotary folding mechanism having a stationary gear, a folding cylinder, folding blades, and pinions for actuating said blades by said gear, an oil retaining housing mounted on said cylinder, enclosing said gear and pinions.

9. In a rotary folding mechanism having a stationary gear, a folding cylinder, folding blades, and pinions for actuating said blades by said gear, the combination of an oil retaining housing enclosing said gear and pinions and means for mounting said housing on said cylinder.

10. In a rotary folding mechanism having a stationary gear, a folding cylinder, folding blades, and pinions for actuating said blades by said gear, the combination of an oil retaining housing enclosing said gear and pinions, and means for angularly movably mounting said housing on one end of said cylinder and on said gear.

11. In a rotary folding mechanism having a stationary gear, a folding cylinder, folding blades, and pinions for actuating said blades by said gear,

the combination of an oil retaining housing'enclosing said gear and pinions and in which said pinions are rotatably mounted and means for mounting said housing on said cylinder, said housing being formed with pockets for receiving said pinions and circular channels concentric with said cylinder connecting said pockets.

12. In a rotary folding mechanism having a stationary gear, and a folding cylinder with planetary gear-actuated folding blades, a housing having an annular channel near its periphery and diametrically opposed pockets communicating with said channel for receiving said planetary gears.

13. In a rotary folding mechanism having a stationary gear, and a folding cylinder with planetary gear-actuated folding blades, a housing having a pair of pockets toreceive said planetary gears, and a pair of channels connecting said pockets.

14. In a rotary folding mechanism having a stationary gear, and a folding cylinder with planetary gear-actuated folding blades, a housing having an annular channel for receiving and retaining oil, said channel being provided with enlarged portions, diametrically opposed for receiving said planetary gears.

15. In a rotary folding mechanism having a stationary gear, and a folding cylinder with planetary gear-actuated folding blades, a housing having an annular channel concentric with and surrounding said stationary gear for receiving and retaining a quantity of oil and a pair of enlarged portions in said channel, diametrically opposed and in which said planetary gears are rotatably journalled.

16. In a rotary folding mechanism having a stationary gear, and a folding cylinder with planetary gear-actuated folding blades, a housing having a pair of annular channels connecting a pair of pockets in which said planetary gears are rotatably journalled on their shafts, the bottom of said channels and pockets being substantially concentric with said cylinder and lying beyond said planetary gear shafts whereby oil leakage while running is avoided.

1'7. In a rotary folding mechanism having a stationary gear, and a folding cylinder with planetary gear-actuated folding blades, a housing having a pair of annular channels connecting a pair of pockets in which said planetary gears are rotatably journalled on their shafts, said channels and pockets being oil retaining and the bottom of said channels and pockets being substantially concentric with said cylinder and lying beyond the said planetary gear shafts whereby oil collects at the bottom of the housing while the housing is not rotating and is distributed in a uniform balanced layer while running.

18. In a rotary folding mechanism having a stationary gear, a folding cylinder with folding blades, planetary gearing for actuating each blade from said gear, and means for forming a thin uniformly balanced layer of oil closely adjacent to said planetary gearing and contacting with each set of gearing, said means including an oilretaining housing surrounding said gearing and gear and rotated with said cylinder.

19. In a rotary folding mechanism having a stationary gear, a folding cylinder with folding blades, planetary gearing for actuating each blade from said gear, and annular oil-retaining means surrounding said gear and gearing and spaced with its inner surface closely adjacent to said planetary gearing to permit said gearing to run in the oil in the annular means.

20. A folding mechanism including in combination a rotary folding cylinder, folding rollers, a folding blade onsaid cylinder to fold sheets between said rollers and means for actuating said blade including a frame, a gear rotatably mounted in said frame coaxial with said cylinder, antifriction bearings concentric with said gear rotatably supporting said cylinder, means for actuating said blade by said gear as the cylinder rotates, means accessible from the outside of said frame for minutely angularly moving said gear in said frame and means for securing said gear against movement.

21. In a rotary folding mechanism having a stationary gear, a folding cylinder, folding blades, and pinions for actuating said blades by saidfgear,

and an oil retaining housing enclosing said gear and pinions.

22. In a rotary foldingy mechanism having a stationary gear, a folding cylinder, folding blades, and pinions for actuating said blades by said gear, and an oil retaining housing enclosing said gear and pinions closely fitted to said stationary gear and cylinder.

23. In a rotary folding mechanism having a stationary gear, a folding cylinder with folding blades, planetary gearing for actuating each blade from said gear, and means for forming a thin uniformly balanced layer of oil closely adjacent to said planetary gearing and contacting with each set of gearing, said means including an oil-retaining housing surrounding said gearing and gear.

CURTIS S. CRAFTS. CHARLES ALONZO HARLESS. 

